Synthesis and Structural and Strength Properties of xLi2ZrO3-(1-x)MgO Ceramics—Materials for Blankets

Abstract

The article considers the effect of doping with magnesium oxide (MgO) on changes in the properties of lithium-containing ceramics based on lithium metazirconate (Li2ZrO3). There is interest in this type of ceramics on account of their prospects for application in tritium production in thermonuclear power engineering, as well as several other applications related to alternative energy sources. During the investigations undertaken, it was found that variation in the MgO dopant concentration above 0.10–0.15 mol resulted in the formation of impurity inclusions in the ceramic structure in the form of a MgLi2ZrO4 phase, the presence of which resulted in a rise in the density of the ceramics, along with elevation in resistance to external influences. Moreover, during experimental work on the study of the thermal stability of the ceramics to external influences, it was found that the formation of two-phase ceramics resulted in growth in the preservation of stable strength properties during high-temperature cyclic tests. The decrease in strength characteristics was observed to be less than 1%.

Effects of Composition Variations on Mechanochemically Synthesized Lithium Metazirconate-Based Ceramics and Their Resistance to External Influences

“…Annealing was carried out for 8 h in an air atmosphere, followed by cooling for 24 h with the furnace. The selection of these annealing conditions, encompassing temperature, duration, and cooling process, was informed by prior experimental investigations [26,27], alongside a priori knowledge concerning phase and structural transformations in lithium-containing ceramics derived through mechanochemical or solid-phase synthesis.…”